Multipurpose support bar

ABSTRACT

AN ELONGATED ANGLE BAR IS FORMED BY FOLDING A STRIP ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE TO FORM FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO EACH OTHER. A SERIES OF SLOTS OF EQUAL LENGTH AND SPACED AT EQUAL INTERVALS ARE FORMED IN THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE AND TERMINATE AT EACH END IN SOMEWHAT LONGER SLOTS SO THAT END PORTIONS OF THE MEMBERS MAY BE BENT OUT OF THE PLANE OF THE MEMBER TO DEFINE TABS. THESE TABS SERVE TO MOUNT THE BAR IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DESIRABLE POSITIONS. THE MEMBERS THEMSELVES INCLUDE A SERIES OF HOLES FOR MOUNTING VARIOUS DEVICES SUCH AS ELECTRICAL OUTLET BOXES, BRACKETS FOR SUPPORTING PLUMBING PIPES, AND OTHER EQUIVALENT STRUCTURES.

Feb. 27, 1973 T. ALBANESE MULTIPURPOSE SUPPORT BAR Filed Aug. 1, 1969/NVENT0/2 THOMAS ALBANESE ZZZoZt .9 pawfmw w,

ATTURNEYS.

United States Patent 3,718,307 MULTIPURPOSE SUPPORT BAR Thomas Albanese,116 Norlen St, Las Vegas, Nev. 89107 Filed Aug. 1, 1969, Ser. No.846,723 Int. Cl. F16] 3/22 US. Cl. 248-205 R 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An elongated angle bar is formed by folding a strip about itslongitudinal center line to form first and second members at rightangles to each other. A series of slots of equal length and spaced atequal intervals are formed in the longitudinal center line and terminateat each end in somewhat longer slots so that end portions of the membersmay be bent out of the plane of the members to define tabs. These tabsserve to mount the bar in a number of different desirable positions. Themembers themselves include a series of holes for mounting variousdevices such as electrical outlet boxes, brackets for Supportingplumbing pipes, and other equivalent structures.

This invention relates generally to support devices and moreparticularly to an improved multipurpose support particularly useful inthe construction of commercial and residential dwellings for supportingplumbing and electrical fixtures as well as other devices normallysecured between or on studs constituting part of the building wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In building construction, plumbing pipes,electrical conduits, and various different devices are normallysupported between studs or joists within wall portions of the structure.Proper positioning of these devices and particularly outlets for thedevices requires considerable time and labor in the improvisation of aproper support or bracket. The problem is particularly troublesome ifthe outlet is to be located at a point in a wall where no stud ispresent. In many instances, the problem is avoided by simply moving theoutlet location to a point near a stud so that convenient mountingdirectly to the stud can take place. In such instances, a predesignedbathroom, for example, would have to be altered to fit the location ofthe building studs.

In instances wherein an outlet or other device must be located betweenstuds at a given level between the floor and ceiling, cross studs arenecessary which require cutting and angle nailing. Further, the workermust constantly use a ruler or other measuring device for the properlocation and again all of these operations increase the length of timenecessary to complete a given construction. The cost of materials andparticularly the cost of labor has risen enormoulsy in the constructionfield during the last few years. Any type of innovation which reducesthe material and the time spent in a construction would thus be mostuseful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION With the foregoing in mind,it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novelmultipurpose support particularly designed for facilitating theinstallation of interior wall plumbing piping and electrical conduits aswell as facilitating operations involved in locating and rigidlysecuring outlets in wall structures all to the end that the materialsand amount of time spent heretofore deemed necessary for such operationsare substantially reduced.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the pro- F P 3,718,307 ICPatented Feb. 27, 1973 vision of a standard length elongated stripfolded along its longitudinal center line to define an angle bar offirst and second members at right angles to each other. A series oflongitudinal slots is provided in the center line and terminates in openend slots of somewhat greater length such that one or more of the endsof the first and second members may be bent out of the plane of theremaining portion of the member to provide tabs. These tabs areconvenientfor securing the angle bar to a building structure such asbetween studs, on the front surfaces of studs, or even to fiat surfaces.Each of the members includes a series of closely spaced holesdimensioned to receive machine screws or rivets so that at any desiredlocation along the bar a bracket for supporting a plumbing pipe orelectric conduit may be secured. Because the members are at right anglesto each other, plumbing lines or electrical conduits runninghorizontally or vertically may be readily fastened to the support byselecting one or the other of the members of the angle bar.

In addition, electrical outlet or plumbing outlets may readily bedirectly secured to selected holes in the angle bar support so that thelocation of such outlet is not limited by the position of studs in theWall. Because of the angle configuration of the support, it may be madeof fairly lightweight metal and yet be extremely rigid so that more thanadequate support is provided.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the angle bars areprovided in sixteen-inch lengths with the series of slots each being oneinch and separated by intervals of one inch except for the end slotswhich are preferably one and one-half inches long. The series of holesin each of the members at right angles to each other are spaced atquarter-inch intervals. With this arrangement, the support can bereadily afiixed to studs normally spaced at sixteen inches withoutrequiring any cutting or modification. However, should a shorter supportbe necessary, it is a simple matter to cut the angle bar to a desiredlength or, alternatively, connect two or more bars together by means ofthe unique tabs formed at the ends of each bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of theinvention will be had by referring now to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multipurpose support bar in accordwith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective View on a reduced scale illustratingone manner in which the multipurpose support bar may be secured betweenconventional wall studs in a building structure;

FIG. 3 is another fragmentary perspective view illustrating the mannerin which the support bar may be secured to the front edge of buildingstuds;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner inwhich the support bar may be secured to a flat surface; and,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of two of the bars connected together toprovide an increased length support bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1,the multipurpose support comprises an integral elongated metallic strip10 folded along its longitudinal center line indicated at F to define anangle bar of first and second members 11 and 12 at right angles to eachother. As shown, there are provided a series of longitudinal slots 13along the longitudinal center line F terminating at open end slots 14and 15. With this arrangement, the ends of the members as indicated at16, 17, 18, and 19 may be bent out of the plane of the remainingportions of the members to define tabs.

Each of the members 11 and 12 includes a series of holes as indicated at20 and 21. These holes are of a diameter d dimensioned to receiveconventional sheet metal screws or blind rivets.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the various slots 13 areall of equal length L and are separated by intervals of length I. exceptfor the end slots which are preferably three halves or one and one-halftimes the length -L. The widths of the members 11 and 12 are onehalf thelength L as shown.

For maximum convenience, the length '1. is made equal to one inch andthe overall length of the angle bar is exactly sixteen inches. Thespacing between the successive holes 20 and 21 is made equal toone-fourth L or one-quarter inch. With this arrangement, the elongatedbar serves as a convenient measuring means so that a worker can count01f distances down to one-quarter inch by means of the divisions definedby the slots and holes.

FIG. 2 illustrates one manner in which the angle bar of FIG. 1 may beused. As shown, the ends of the members such as 18 and 19 may be bentupwardly and outwardly respectively at right angles to the remainingportions of the members so that the angle bar may readily be insertedbetween conventional studs 22 and 23. Since these studs areconventionally spaced at sixteen inches as measured from the center ofthe studs, bending of the tabs will reduce the overall length of theangle bar sufiiciently to fit between the opposing surfaces of the studsand provide an adequate surface contact with the inner surface of thestuds to enable ready securement of the angle bar between the studs. Abracket such as illustrated at 24 may be provided on the upper member tosupport a horizontal pipe 25. Alternatively, or in addition, a verticalpipe may be supported by a bracket 26 such as shown for the verticalpipe 27.

FIG. :3 illustrates the manner in which the angle bar may 'be used tosupport an electrical outlet 28. In this instance, it is desirable thatthe outlet be located at the front portion of the studs and thus onlythe tab 18 will be bent out of the plane of the remaining portion of theangle bar, the tab 19 simply being secured to the front edge of thestud. Similar securement would be provided for the other tabs 16 and 17illustrated in FIG. 1. The outlet box 28 may be then secured directly tothe member 17 of the angle bar in any desired horizontal position.

In FIG. 4, the tab 17 has been bent inwardly and thence outwardly to liein a plane corresponding to the rear edge of the member 11. With thisarrangement, the angle bar may be secured to a fiat surface such as 29.Various devices may then be supported by or suspended from the anglebar.

While the multipurpose support bar will normally be provided in lengthsof sixteen inches in large quantities thereby minimizing any cuttingthat may be necessary, there will arise situations in which it isdesired to use a shorter length of the angle bar. In this instance, thebar may simply be cut preferably at a slot location to facilitate thecutting operation. In instances wherein a support bar longer thansixteen inches is required, two of the sixteen inch bars may readily besecured together by causing the tabs of one to overlap end portions ofthe members of the other.

Thus, referring to FIG. 5, the tabs 18 and 19 of the angle bar 10 areshown overlapping an end portion of an additional angle bar 30. Rivetsor sheet metal screws 4 may be passed through the openings in the tabsdirectly into the members over which the tabs lie of the additionalangle bar. The angled construction assures rigidity even should severalsuch angle bars be connected in this manner.

OPERATION In operation, a construction worker will have a large numberof the angle bars readily available all of sixteen inch lengths. Asmentioned, the securement of plumbing pipes, electrical conduits, oroutlet devices between or to building studs can rapidly be carried outby simply bending the tabs defined by the elongated end slots asrequired and as described for example in conjunction with FIGS. 2, 3,and 4. Because of the provision of the plurality of holes spaced atquarter-inch intervals, the worker need not constantly refer to a ruleror other measuring instrument but can readily locate pipes or outlets bysimply counting the slots and holes to define the required distance tothe nearest quarter inch. His work is thus enormously speeded up, andinstallation at substantially an exact location regardless of studpositioning is assured.

In those instances wherein a shorter or longer section of angle bar isnecessary, the same may be cut or connected together as described inconjunction with FIG. 5.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the present invention hasprovided a greatly improved multipurpose support bar wherein the variousadvantages of reduction in materials and labor time during constructionprocesses are all realized.

What is claimed is:

1. A multipurpose support bar comprising: an integral elongated metallicstrip folded along its longitudinal center line to define an angle barof first and second members at right angles to each other, said anglebar including a series of longitudinalslots along said longi tudinalcenter line terminating in open end slots such that one or more of theends of said first and second members may be bent out of the plane ofthe remaining portion of the member to provide tabs for securing saidangle bar to a building structure, said slots being of equal givenlength except for said end slots and being separated by equal intervalscorresponding to said given length, said end slots each being of one anda half times said given length, each of said members including a seriesof holes along their length there being provided at least four holes persaid given length, said holes being of uniform spacing to serve as ameasuring means and to serve for securing devices to said angle bar forsupport in desired positions by said angle bar, and the holes along theside of said end slots serving to secure said tabs to said buildingstructure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,583,474 5/1926 Kruse 248-205X1,812,756 '6/1'931 Riggs 220-39 2,638,643 5/1952 Olson 287-20922,930,564 3/ 1960 Maier 248-228 J. FRANKLIN FOSS, Primary Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

